这European Space Agency(ESA) has completed the first hot fire testing of a full scale, 3D printed rocket engine demonstrator named BERTA (Biergoler Raumttransportaengine/Biergoler space transport drive). Fired at theGerman Aerospace Center（DLR）在Lampoldshausen中，用于生产此发动机的添加剂制造过程是开发管道的一部分Ariane 6launch vehicle – a project valued at €3.6 billion ($4 billion USD).
LysanPfützenreuter, project manager at DLR Space Management,comments, “Additive manufacturing opens up new ways for Europe to manufacture engines,”
“The successful demonstration of the technology is an important step towards improving the competitiveness of European launcher systems.”
3D printed rocket engines
As a relatively cost effective production method for such complex parts, additive manufacturing is finding widespread use across R&D efforts in the aerospace industry. This is particularly evident in the development of engines that use storable liquid propellants, e.g.液体氧（LOX）甲烷, which are reusable, and much simpler than those that require an ignition system.发射器的E-2是3D打印LOX引擎的一个例子，该引擎上周成为了其创纪录的单件式尝试的头条新闻。这Orbex Prime engine是另一种，是与SLM解决方案合作生产的。
Berta引擎，由ArianeGroup在ESA，使用选择性激光熔融（SLM），从镍基合金（用于注射头）和不锈钢（燃烧室）生产。目前，该发动机是朝着该机构生产3D印刷发动机的最终目标的一步，该发动机可以推动火箭弹到月球（地球上384,000公里）及以后。
A European first
3D打印Berta的优点之一是工程师能够在发动机内部添加更复杂的冷却通道。最终，这种整合将导致更紧凑的发动机，这对材料经济来说是积极的。在为期一个月的BERTA系列测试中，DLR工程师以2.45 kN（550.78 lbf）的参考推力成功发射了560秒。DLR工程师兼BERTA测试站P8的负责人GerdBrümmer评论说：“当前测试的目的是研究印刷表面的流动行为和热传递。”
此外，布鲁默说：
“This new technology can currently only be tested at Test Stand P8 in Lampoldshausen, Europe-wide.”
在航空航天中保持竞争力
伯塔’s continued testing is part of the ESA Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) first launched in 2003 “to respond to Europe’s future institutional needs and to continue at the forefront of new developments in space.” Now in Period 3, the FLPP is seeking “New Economic Opportunities” to cut the time-to-market and price of the continent’s aerospace systems. The agency is also developing other additive manufacturing processes for application in larger engine demonstrators.
In relation to the BERTA’s first firing Wenzel Schoroth, propulsion engineer at ESA, comments, “3D printing and qualifying parts for hot-firing and ultimately flight is a challenge, especially when dealing with fine, complicated structures, like the cooling channels of our demonstrator.”
“This hot-fire test is a way of demonstrating the effectiveness of our processes, as well as learning more about the flow phenomena within additively manufactured rocket engines.”
提名ESA在年度航空航天申请中2019 3D印刷行业奖.对于常规的增材制造航空航天新闻更新，请订阅我们newsletter， 跟着我们推特and like us onFacebook.访问3D打印作业for new additive manufacturing opportunities in your area.
Featured image shows the BERTA thrust chamber demonstrator. Photo via DLR
